What is the definition of blood pressure?

Blood pressure is defined as the force that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries. This definition emphasizes the relationship between the blood and the arterial walls, reflecting how the heart pumps blood into the arteries and how that blood creates pressure as it travels through the circulatory system. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is typically presented as two numbers, systolic and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure measures the force during heartbeats, while diastolic pressure measures it during relaxation.

Understanding this definition is crucial in fields related to health and fitness, as maintaining healthy blood pressure levels is essential for overall cardiovascular health, influencing both exercise capacity and recovery. The other options represent different aspects of the circulatory system but do not accurately define blood pressure itself. For instance, the speed of blood flow, the overall volume of blood, or blood levels within the heart are related to circulation dynamics but do not encompass the specific concept of pressure exerted on artery walls.